Networking giant Cisco has announced its intent to buy privately held small cell company Ubiquisys for $310 million.
This signals a push from Cisco into small cells as it wants to increase its foothold in the mobile networking market. Ubiquisys deals in small cells and software on the 3G and LTE spectrum, which Cisco hopes will bolster its portfolio when drawn in with its own wi-fi technologies.
Cisco will hope the deal brings it closer to network carriers. Other femtocell and small cell companies have confirmed to us that much of the technology is ready, and it is up to the carriers when to implement them.
Ubiquisys, the company says, fits in well with its recent BroadHop and Intucell acquisitions and will further help it edge into mobile.
Cisco argues that offloading traffic to small cell networks is a more effective way to boost capacity and make sure spectrum doesn’t get clogged. The company also thinks increasing wi-fi infrastructure can also take the load off increasingly busy spectrum – that is, solid mobile broadband and wi-fi networked buildings when the user is static.
Ubiquisys’ staff will move on to Cisco Mobility Business Group, where they will report to veep and manager, Partho Mishra.
Cisco hopes the acquisition will be completed in its fiscal Q4 2013, after the usual conditions are met.
